This list includes 76 Earth science words that start with N, from “NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material)” to “Névé”. These terms describe processes, landforms, rocks, climate and measurement vocabulary used in education, research and environmental management.
Earth science words that start with N are concise labels for concepts across geology, meteorology, oceanography and glaciology. For example, “névé” names compacted snow that feeds glaciers, while NORM refers to natural radioactivity in resources.
Below you’ll find the table with [COLUMN_NAMES].
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Earth science words that start with N
| Term | Part of speech | Discipline | Typical scale/units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nappe | noun | geology | kilometers |
| Nearshore | adjective | oceanography | meters–kilometers |
| Neap tide | noun | oceanography | tidal range (m) |
| Neogene | noun | geology | million years (Ma) |
| Neoproterozoic | noun | geology | million years (Ma) |
| Neotectonics | noun | geology | years–millions of years |
| Nitrate | noun | hydrology;soil science | mg/L; ppm |
| Nitrogen cycle | noun | climatology;soil science | mass fluxes (kg N) |
| Nitrogen fixation | noun | ecology;soil science | mass/time; mg N/kg |
| Nitric oxide | noun | atmospheric chemistry | ppb |
| Nitric acid | noun | atmospheric chemistry | µg/m3; mol/L |
| Nitrite | noun | hydrology;soil science | mg/L |
| Nitrous oxide | noun | atmospheric chemistry | ppm |
| NOx | noun | atmospheric chemistry | ppb; µg/m3 |
| Nitrate deposition | noun | atmospheric chemistry | kg N ha−1 yr−1 |
| Naphthenic? (skip) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nappes (duplicate avoided) | noun | geology | kilometers |
| Nape? (skip) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nar? (skip) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Natural gas | noun | geology;energy | cubic meters; cubic feet |
| Natural hazard | noun | hazard science | impact; probability |
| Natural levee | noun | geomorphology | meters height |
| Natural recharge | noun | hydrology | mm/yr; m3/yr |
| Nearshore processes | noun | oceanography | meters–kilometers |
| Nebkha? (skip) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nekton | noun | oceanography | meters–kilometers |
| Nepheline | noun | mineralogy | chemical composition (%) |
| Nephology | noun | meteorology | N/A |
| Nephelometer | noun | atmospheric science | scattering coefficient (Mm−1) |
| Net radiation | noun | climatology | W/m2 |
| Net primary productivity | noun | ecology;climatology | g C m−2 yr−1 |
| Névé | noun | glaciology | meters thickness |
| Nival | adjective | geomorphology;ecology | N/A |
| Nivation | noun | geomorphology | meters; years–centuries |
| Nitrate-reducing bacteria (term starts with N) | noun | microbial ecology;soil science | cells per g; activity rates |
| Nitrate pollution | noun | hydrology;environmental science | mg/L |
| Nodule | noun | oceanography;geology | centimeters–meters |
| Nonconsolidated sediment | noun; adjective | sedimentology;geology | grain size (mm); thickness (m) |
| Nonconformity | noun | geology | meters–kilometers |
| Nonlinear behavior | noun | geophysics;climatology | N/A |
| Nonmarine | adjective | geology;sedimentology | N/A |
| Nonpoint source pollution | noun | hydrology;environmental science | mass/time; concentration |
| NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) | noun | geology;environmental science | Bq/kg; mSv/yr |
| Normal fault | noun | structural geology | meters–kilometers displacement |
| Normal mode | noun | seismology;geophysics | frequency (mHz–Hz) |
| Normal polarity | noun | paleomagnetism | N/A |
| Normal stress | noun | geomechanics | Pascals (Pa) |
| Nubbin? (skip) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nuclei (cloud condensation nucleus) | noun | atmospheric science | particles per cm3 |
| Nucleation | noun | meteorology;glaciology | temperature; relative humidity |
| Nutrient | noun | ecology;oceanography | mg/L; µmol/L |
| Nutrient cycling | noun | ecology;soil science | mass fluxes (kg) |
| Nutrient loading | noun | coastal science;hydrology | kg/yr; g m−2 yr−1 |
| Nutrient limitation | noun | ecology;oceanography | concentration units |
| Nummulite | noun | paleontology;geology | millimeters–centimeters |
| Nummulitic limestone (starts with N) | noun | sedimentology | meters; fossil content (%) |
| Nautical mile | noun | oceanography;navigation | 1.85 km |
| Navigation buoy (navigational buoy) | noun | oceanography;coastal engineering | N/A |
| Narrow-band radiometer? (skip) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Neritic | adjective | oceanography | meters depth |
| Neritic zone | noun | oceanography | meters depth |
| Net ecosystem exchange | noun | ecology | g C m−2 yr−1 |
| Netting? (skip) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Neutral buoyancy | noun | oceanography;glaciology | kg/m3; density |
| Neutral density | noun | physical oceanography | kg/m3 |
| Neutral stability | noun | meteorology | N/A |
| Neutral axis | noun | geotechnical;engineering geology | meters |
| Neutral pH | adjective | soil science;water quality | pH 7 |
| Nevada? (proper name skip) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nocturnal boundary layer | noun | meteorology | meters |
| Nocturnal inversion | noun | meteorology | °C; meters |
| Node (tidal node) | noun | oceanography;geophysics | meters; degrees |
| Nodal plane | noun | seismology | degrees |
| Nonmarine facies | noun | sedimentology;stratigraphy | meters; grain size |
| Nonselective transport? (skip) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nonthermal plasma? (skip) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Descriptions
Nappe
Large sheet of rock thrust over other rocks during mountain building, often transported kilometers from its source (USGS).
Nearshore
Coastal zone close to shore where waves and tides reshape sediments and ecosystems; important for erosion and coastal management (NOAA).
Neap tide
Tide with the smallest tidal range, occurring after quarter moons when lunar and solar tidal forces partially cancel (NOAA).
Neogene
Geologic period from about 23.03–2.58 Ma marked by major mammal evolution and plate rearrangements (ICS).
Neoproterozoic
Time interval from 1,000–541 Ma, notable for global glaciations and early multicellular life (ICS).
Neotectonics
Study of recent and ongoing tectonic deformation that shapes landscapes and informs seismic hazard assessments.
Nitrate
Soluble nitrogen ion (NO3−) that fertilizes plants but causes water quality problems at high concentrations (USGS).
Nitrogen cycle
Set of biological and chemical processes moving nitrogen among air, land, and water, central to ecosystem function (IPCC).
Nitrogen fixation
Conversion of atmospheric N2 into biologically available forms by microbes or lightning, a key step in the nitrogen cycle.
Nitric oxide
Reactive gas (NO) produced by combustion and lightning; precursor to NO2 and ozone (EPA).
Nitric acid
Strong acid formed from oxidized NOx in the atmosphere; contributes to acid deposition and soil/water acidification.
Nitrite
Intermediate nitrogen ion (NO2−) in nitrification/denitrification; toxic to aquatic life at elevated concentrations.
Nitrous oxide
Greenhouse gas (N2O) produced by soils and combustion; contributes to warming and stratospheric ozone depletion (IPCC).
NOx
Collective term for nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) from combustion; important for air quality and ozone chemistry (EPA).
Nitrate deposition
Deposition of reactive nitrogen compounds from the atmosphere to ecosystems, affecting nutrient cycles and water quality.
Naphthenic? (skip)
N/A
Nappes (duplicate avoided)
See “Nappe” above.
Nape? (skip)
N/A
Nar? (skip)
N/A
Natural gas
Hydrocarbon gas, mainly methane, formed from buried organic matter under heat and pressure; major energy resource.
Natural hazard
Natural process (earthquake, flood, volcano) that can harm people and infrastructure; risk combines hazard, exposure and vulnerability.
Natural levee
Raised bank along a river channel formed by sediment deposition during floods, locally reducing overflow.
Natural recharge
Portion of precipitation that percolates through soil to replenish groundwater aquifers without human intervention.
Nearshore processes
Physical and sedimentary processes operating close to shore, including wave shoaling, sediment transport, and coastal erosion.
Nebkha? (skip)
N/A
Nekton
Actively swimming aquatic organisms (fish, squid) able to move independently of currents, distinct from plankton.
Nepheline
Feldspathoid mineral characteristic of silica-poor igneous rocks; used as a petrologic indicator.
Nephology
Branch of meteorology concerned with cloud types, distribution and classification (WMO).
Nephelometer
Instrument measuring light scattering by aerosols to estimate visibility and particulate concentrations (EPA).
Net radiation
Net balance of incoming and outgoing radiation at Earth’s surface; primary driver of surface heating and evaporative fluxes (NOAA).
Net primary productivity
Rate at which plants convert CO2 into biomass after accounting for respiration; key metric of ecosystem carbon uptake (IPCC).
Névé
Coarse, granular snow on the upper part of a glacier that compacts into firn and eventually ice.
Nival
Relating to snow-covered environments or processes influenced predominantly by snow.
Nivation
Erosional process where persistent snow patches and freeze–thaw activity create hollows and shape alpine terrain.
Nitrate-reducing bacteria (term starts with N)
Microbes performing nitrate reduction in soils and sediments, central to nitrogen cycling and denitrification processes.
Nitrate pollution
Excess nitrate in water from fertilizer or waste that can cause eutrophication and drinking-water health issues.
Nodule
Mineral concretion such as manganese or iron nodules on the seafloor, or mineral lumps in soils and rocks.
Nonconsolidated sediment
Loose, unlithified materials like sand, silt, and gravel that are readily eroded and transported by water or wind.
Nonconformity
Type of unconformity where sedimentary rocks rest on much older igneous or metamorphic basement, indicating a major time gap.
Nonlinear behavior
System response where output is not directly proportional to input; common in climate feedbacks, fluid flow, and seismic behavior.
Nonmarine
Describes deposits or environments formed on land or in fresh water, not under marine conditions.
Nonpoint source pollution
Diffuse pollution from widespread sources (agricultural runoff, urban stormwater) that is hard to trace to a single discharge (EPA).
NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material)
Naturally present radioactive elements in rocks and soils with potential environmental and health relevance (IAEA).
Normal fault
Fault where the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall due to extensional stresses.
Normal mode
Characteristic oscillation pattern of Earth or a structure, used to infer internal properties from vibrations.
Normal polarity
Magnetic field orientation like the current one; intervals of normal polarity are used in magnetic stratigraphy to date rocks.
Normal stress
Component of stress acting perpendicular to a surface, essential for understanding rock and soil strength.
Nubbin? (skip)
N/A
Nuclei (cloud condensation nucleus)
Small airborne particles around which cloud droplets or ice crystals form; essential for cloud microphysics.
Nucleation
Initial formation of droplets or ice crystals around particles, controlling cloud formation and precipitation processes.
Nutrient
Chemical elements (e.g., N, P) required for organism growth; availability controls productivity and ecosystem health.
Nutrient cycling
Movement and transformation of nutrients within ecosystems and between atmosphere, soil, water and organisms.
Nutrient loading
Amount of nutrients entering a water body over time; excess loading drives eutrophication and algal blooms.
Nutrient limitation
Condition where organism growth is constrained by the scarcity of a specific nutrient such as nitrogen or phosphorus.
Nummulite
Large foraminiferal fossil common in certain Tertiary limestones, useful for biostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental interpretation.
Nummulitic limestone (starts with N)
Limestone dominated by nummulite fossils, characteristic of some shallow marine Eocene deposits.
Nautical mile
Unit of distance used at sea and in aviation equal to 1.85 kilometers (1 nautical mile).
Navigation buoy (navigational buoy)
Floating marker used to guide vessels and mark hazards; important for marine safety and channel management.
Narrow-band radiometer? (skip)
N/A
Neritic
Relating to the coastal ocean zone over the continental shelf, typically shallow and biologically productive.
Neritic zone
Coastal marine area above the continental shelf, rich in nutrients and marine life due to sunlight and mixing.
Net ecosystem exchange
Net CO2 flux between ecosystem and atmosphere; positive values indicate net release, negative indicate net uptake.
Netting? (skip)
N/A
Neutral buoyancy
Condition where an object or water parcel has the same density as its surroundings and neither sinks nor rises.
Neutral density
Density variable that defines surfaces along which parcels move without mixing, useful in ocean circulation analysis.
Neutral stability
Atmospheric state where vertical displacements are neutrally buoyant; parcel neither accelerates upward nor downward (lapse rate equals adiabatic).
Neutral axis
Section in a beam or rock mass where stress changes sign during bending; used in slope and structural analyses.
Neutral pH
pH value of seven, indicating neither acidic nor basic conditions in soils and waters.
Nevada? (proper name skip)
N/A
Nocturnal boundary layer
Stable atmospheric layer forming near the surface at night with reduced turbulence and low mixing heights.
Nocturnal inversion
Temperature inversion near the surface at night where cooled air overlays warmer air aloft, trapping pollutants and creating fog.
Node (tidal node)
Point in a standing wave system (e.g., tides, seiches) with minimal vertical motion; important in harbor resonance.
Nodal plane
One of two planes inferred from earthquake first motions that describe the orientation of fault rupture.
Nonmarine facies
Sedimentary deposits and characteristics that indicate deposition in continental settings (rivers, lakes) rather than marine environments.
Nonselective transport? (skip)
N/A
Nonthermal plasma? (skip)
N/A